Ella Forster (Paula Lane) left the Emmerdale village under a cloud of shame when Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson) and the rest of Emmerdale village discovered that she had brutally bashed her childhood friend’s head in and left her to die as a 10-year-old.

Absolutely everyone turned their backs on her, with Liam spitting at her that he felt nothing but hatred. Tearful Ella then hopped in her car and made a run for it before the villagers could come at her with pitch forks.

In her haste she left all her belongings, which Liam promptly disposed of, having no space for reminders of her deadly past in his house.

Liam is ready to forget all about her and Manpreet (Rebecca Sarker) encourages him to make another go of things with Chas (Lucy Pargeter). Instead, he resolves to remain single, having had enough of the female of the species.

Someone is watching him as he ponders his lonely future – Ella. Mandy (Lisa Riley) makes a shock discovery when she discovers Ella has broken into the house. Ella admits she’s just popped back to get her stuff and doesn’t intend to hang around. Bit awkward, looks like it’ll be some dumpster diving for her.

Ella leaves, and Mandy is in turmoil about leaving her former pal without any support.

But she doesn’t get far from the village before Sam is making a frantic call for an ambulance – there’s been a crash on a country road, and it involves Ella’s car. Is Ella’s return storyline also a swift exit one?

Or does she now need Dr Liam’s rescue as she’s been left homeless with her car a wreck?

Emmerdale boss Sophie Roper has suggested that there’s more to come from the receptionist yet, as she promised that Ella’s past will ‘continue to haunt her’.

That means her child murdering alter ego won’t be forgotten just yet. What’s next for Ella after the car crash